A stunning island less than a three hour journey from mainland Britain is a popular destination for car enthusiasts for one vital reason, no speed limits. Petroheads who want to put their foot to the floor without consequences have limited options in Europe.
Either travel to Germany’s Autobahn or book a track day, which makes the Isle of Man an ideal destination for those who want to push their car to the max. The island is a self-governing British Crown Dependency that has oversight of many of its own rules. It means many of the island’s roads outside of built-up areas have no national speed restrictions, although some rules are still in place.
Motorists must be aware that careless and dangerous driving laws still apply, meaning road users must still have control of their vehicles at all times. Meanwhile, some built-up areas have speed restrictions of 30mph, with some 20mph restrictions in place in some areas.
Newly qualified drivers must not drive their vehicle at over 50mph for the first 12 months on the road. The Isle of Man is known for its natural beauty, with spots such as Dhoon Glen, Niarbyl and Peek Castle among the top sites.
However, the island is also renowned for its link with motorsport and the world-famous Isle of Man TT motorcycle races held every June. Over 50,000 people descend on the island for the event every year, with the races considered one of the most dangerous motorsport events in the world.
Much of the famous Snaefell Mountain Course used in the races is held on unrestricted roads, meaning visitors can drive large chunks of the track at any speed. On Reddit, one road user explained that around 1 in 20 cars go faster than 60mph on the mountain but suggested most stay below 100mph.
Reddit user @Reasonably_Manicured said: “Sometimes I drive up to 140mph+, depending on the road and conditions. But to be honest, you get bored of driving as fast as possible. Most of the time I’ll be at 60 to 70. It only feels different in the UK because there’s rules, when you don’t have rules no one really cares, you get used to it.”
@MadManxMan added: “Regularly find vehicles just making progress at decent speeds. It’s not wacky races, 70mph limits are just stupid.”
Isle of Man held a poll on introducing a national speed limit back in 2006 but the plan was rejected by locals. 54% of the 13,600 people who responded to a questionnaire around the issue voted against a 70mph limit. Meanwhile, 55% rejected introducing a slightly lower 60mph limit on the rest of the island’s unrestricted routes.